71793 - Infectious complications after immediate versus delayed implant-based reconstruction in women with breast cancer – a retrospective cohort study

Introduction Immediate breast reconstruction (IBR) has come to increase in Sweden. In Jönköping, an implant is used for all reconstructions. The study aimed to investigate postoperative infections and compare implant-based IBR with implant-based delayed breast reconstruction (DBR). Method This retrospective study included all women who had undergone IBR or DBR between 2016 and 2022 in Region Jönköpings län. Data was collected from medical charts. The main endpoint was surgical site infection within three months. The secondary endpoint was time to oncological treatment. Result 130 breasts were included, 96 in the group IBR and 34 in the group DBR, distribution per year is shown in Figure 1. Malignancy was the most common indication (78%) and 38% of the included breasts were previously operated with breast conserving surgery. Infection within three months occurred in 15 breasts, 14 of these among IBR (p=0,11), none of them had received radiation therapy. Implant removal within three months occurred in three of the 11 reoperated breasts, only one of them due to infection. Implant volume was associated with infection in IBR (p=0,014). Time to oncological treatment was 39 days among IBR and 38 among DBR (p=0,44). No patient was excluded from adjuvant treatment because of infection. Discussion Infection was found almost exclusively among IBR. Few patients had a known risk factor, unexpectedly none of them were affected by infection. The chance of receiving timely adjuvant therapy did not differ between the groups.